Stewart backs Blues double act

EX-MANCHESTER City striker Paul Stewart believes a Shaun and Shaun double act can steal the show in Division One next season and fire Kevin Keegan’s new Blues brigade straight back into the Premiership.

EX-MANCHESTER City striker Paul Stewart believes a Shaun and Shaun double act can steal the show in Division One next season and fire Kevin Keegan’s new Blues brigade straight back into the Premiership.

Stewart reckons the former England boss need look no further than Shaun Wright-Phillips and Shaun Goater as the strikeforce to guide City back into English soccer’s promised land - even though Keegan seems to favouring a forward partnership of Darren Huckerby and Paulo Wanchope.

Wright-Phillips, 19, is being tipped as a future England international while 31-year-old Goater, who revealed he wants to stay at Maine Road, has a proven record in the first division having scored 29 goals last time the Blues were there.

Wolves are waiting in the wings with a £3m bid for Goater should Keegan decide he cannot guarantee the Bermudian hitman a place in his side.

‘‘I think Shaun Goater’s good enough to lead the forward line, he’s scored at that level before and he’s very popular with the City fans,’’ said.

‘‘He struggled in the Premiership last season but, at first division level, he’ll get the goals that could take City back up.

‘‘I’d like to see Shaun Wright-Phillips partner him, he’ll be ready to start playing regularly now this season after all the experience he gained in the Premier Division last time around.

‘‘He’s a very talented young player, who’s quick with good feet, and I’m looking forward to seeing him play again.’’

And former Liverpool, Tottenham and Sunderland star Stewart, the only person ever to play in the Manchester, Merseyside, North London and North East derbies, is delighted Keegan has taken over the reins at City.

‘‘I’m so pleased that they’ve got a manager in who will attract top players,’’ added Stewart.

‘‘Kevin’s proved himself at every level, my only concern is that I hope he doesn’t walk away from the job if it’s not going his way straight away because, if he sticks in there, then I know there isn’t anybody better to take Manchester City back into the Premiership where they belong.’’